Let’s take a break

Dear editor:
I am writing in response to the several concerns that have come up about the missing funds from Fort Frances High School.
The public has every right to an explanation on how things could have gone undetected and unanswered for so long. Unfortunately, because the issue is still before the courts, the former board and the present board could not—and still can’t—make any comments.
Mr. Kircher campaigned on transparency and accountability and, unfortunately, because of the legal issues with this case in court, it does not look as if the board was being transparent or accountable.
Mr. Kircher requested things through Freedom of Information, which he had every right to do. What Mr. Kircher fails to tell his followers, and the rest of the taxpayers, is that he was not satisfied with answers given to him—even when he bypassed the board and went to the Ministry of Education, and got the same result.
There has been thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on lawyer fees and man hours paid out to get Mr. Kircher his information, which he still doesn’t believe.
The new members of the school board are now finding out that their hands also are tied while this case plays out in court.
Once the case is finished, I truly hope that the trustees and the board are able to give the answers that everyone needs.
Mr. Kircher and Mr. Lewis had said during their campaigns that they would go in and clean up the board and administration if they were elected. With threats like this, there was a concern about the job security of two employees.
These employees, Heather Campbell (director), who, by the way, inherited this mess, and Laura Mills, financial officer for the board, have done nothing except their jobs.
It was because of these threats, and the possibility of this case continuing in court for a few more years, that the former board felt the need to give them a little security. By the way, this was brought forward to the trustees by a concerned taxpayer.
We, as taxpayers, are very fortunate to have two women in our board office that are so very well-respected in the education field. Mrs. Mills, especially, has garnered many grants, two new schools, and many other things for our board.
For a very small school board in this province, we have the respect and envy of other boards for our operations and fiscal management.
This school board has been the lead on many projects in the province which have since been incorporated into other boards. Laura just recently took the lead for our board again so as to get first-hand information for our bus contractors who recently had to go into a tendering format for their routes.
This was a very stressful and worrisome time for our contractors.
This school board is in a very good financial position because of the diligent work done by Laura. It would be a great shame that the issues and the attacks on the administration would drive her to look for employment elsewhere.
It’s a sad day when one issue, that can’t be fully explained until a court case is finished, puts a black mark on all the good things that have happened. You have a group of trustees who have given many years of good service to this district, namely Judy Eluik, Dan Belluz, Ron McAlister, and Marg Heyens, and for them now to be treated as criminals (not good).
The rest of the trustees were there for four years or less, so their impact on the district wasn’t the same. But they also did what was best for their communities.
I would like to see this all put aside until the court has done its job and get on with the business of giving our kids the best education that we can.
Just a couple of last points. Mr. Lewis, as chair and spokesperson for the trustees, whey haven’t you told the public about not being able to make comment on this case until it’s done in court?
Also, why didn’t you correct some of the issues Mr. Horban had asked for in his presentation at the last board meeting? Which, by the way, if he had done his homework, would have had some of the answers to.
Also, the taxpayer might be interested in knowing who signed the Mine Centre Isolate Board employees to new and binding contracts just before they amalgamated with the Rainy River District School Board, which they had to honour at a big cost to the taxpayer.
Thank you for your time.
Signed,
Glenda Belluz
Devlin, Ont.